Absolute MonarchyAbsolute MonarchyObjective: Identify what Objective: Identify what factors allowed absolute factors allowed absolute

monarchs to gain power in monarchs to gain power in Europe.Europe.

Factors leading to Absolute Factors leading to Absolute MonarchsMonarchs

Crusades killed many feudal lordsCrusades killed many feudal lords Rising middle class supported monarch Rising middle class supported monarch

to protect property and tradeto protect property and trade Reformation gave powers formerly held Reformation gave powers formerly held

by Catholic Churchby Catholic Church Spirit of nationalism made monarch a Spirit of nationalism made monarch a

symbol of unitysymbol of unity

Divine RightDivine Right

King ruled by God’s King ruled by God’s authorityauthority

Obedience to king Obedience to king was obedience to was obedience to GodGod

King could do no King could do no wrongwrong

Rise of the Nation-StateRise of the Nation-State

Began when a strong ruler expanded Began when a strong ruler expanded control to a larger areacontrol to a larger area

Eventually, monarch rule free from Eventually, monarch rule free from external political or religious controlexternal political or religious control

In England and France the monarch In England and France the monarch united people of a common nationality united people of a common nationality (similar language, customs, history)(similar language, customs, history)

People transferred loyalty from local People transferred loyalty from local lord to monarch & nationlord to monarch & nation

Case Study: Absolute Case Study: Absolute Monarchy FranceMonarchy France

Louis XIV (Bourbon Dynasty) 1638-1715Louis XIV (Bourbon Dynasty) 1638-1715 Most powerful monarch in French historyMost powerful monarch in French history Dissenters and critics were punishedDissenters and critics were punished Interfered in economic and religious lives Interfered in economic and religious lives

of his subjectsof his subjects Demanded the Huguenots (French Demanded the Huguenots (French

Protestants) convert to Catholicism or Protestants) convert to Catholicism or leaveleave

Built magnificent Palace of VersaillesBuilt magnificent Palace of Versailles

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles Cost of palace weakened French financesCost of palace weakened French finances Became ideal of European royaltyBecame ideal of European royalty French became language of diplomacy French became language of diplomacy

throughout Europethroughout Europe

Jean ColbertJean Colbert

Louis XIV’s most outstanding Louis XIV’s most outstanding financial advisorfinancial advisor

Promoted Mercantilism: Promoted Mercantilism: economic system based on idea economic system based on idea that a country’s wealth is that a country’s wealth is measured by amt. of gold & measured by amt. of gold & silver it hassilver it has

Caused gov’t interference in Caused gov’t interference in nation’s industry & tradenation’s industry & trade

ConclusionConclusion

Louis XIV involved France in series of Louis XIV involved France in series of wars to expand French Frontierwars to expand French Frontier

In the end, his aggressive actions In the end, his aggressive actions served to unite rest of Europe served to unite rest of Europe against Franceagainst France

France was left bankrupt & France was left bankrupt & exhaustedexhausted

England: England: A Case Study in Limited A Case Study in Limited

MonarchyMonarchy Monarchs not able to establish Monarchs not able to establish absolute ruleabsolute rule

Middle Ages: strong checks placed on Middle Ages: strong checks placed on king’s authorityking’s authority

King John (1167-1216) – heavy taxes & King John (1167-1216) – heavy taxes & abuses of powerabuses of power

Nobles and church threatened civil Nobles and church threatened civil war and forced him to sign the Magna war and forced him to sign the Magna CartaCarta

Magna CartaMagna Carta“Great Charter” (Latin)“Great Charter” (Latin)

Trial by jury for all freemen Trial by jury for all freemen (small number in 1215)(small number in 1215)

Right to a trialRight to a trial King can not levy taxes King can not levy taxes

without agreement of without agreement of peoplepeople

Power of the law is greater Power of the law is greater than the power of the kingthan the power of the king

Considered the cornerstone Considered the cornerstone of English democracy and of English democracy and later became basis for later became basis for English political libertiesEnglish political liberties

The Tudor Dynasty: The Tudor Dynasty: ‘Almost’ Absolute Monarchy ‘Almost’ Absolute Monarchy Henry VIII (1491-1547)- broke with Henry VIII (1491-1547)- broke with

church because Pope refused to grant church because Pope refused to grant him a divorce to Spanish wife: Catherine him a divorce to Spanish wife: Catherine of Aragonof Aragon

Induced parliament to pass “Act of Induced parliament to pass “Act of Supremacy” which instituted independent Supremacy” which instituted independent Anglican Church of England with king as Anglican Church of England with king as religious leaderreligious leader

Married Anne Boleyn, their daughter later Married Anne Boleyn, their daughter later became Queen Elizabeth Ibecame Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

Queen of England Queen of England (1558-1603)(1558-1603)

Encouraged trade, art, Encouraged trade, art, & literature& literature

Transformed England Transformed England into leading world into leading world powerpower

Preserved Preserved Protestantism in Protestantism in EnglandEngland

Key Difference in EnglandKey Difference in England

Legislative Assembly : Parliament made Legislative Assembly : Parliament made up of House of Lords and House of up of House of Lords and House of CommonsCommons

Tudors in England allowed the English Tudors in England allowed the English parliament to retain its powers to make parliament to retain its powers to make laws and levy taxeslaws and levy taxes

Henry VIII & daughter Elizabeth I were Henry VIII & daughter Elizabeth I were almost absolute rulers because they almost absolute rulers because they controlled parliament with persuasion, controlled parliament with persuasion, flattery, bribery, or bullyingflattery, bribery, or bullying

Absolute Monarchy: A Absolute Monarchy: A SummarySummary

StrengthsStrengths

Weakened forces Weakened forces that tended to that tended to disunite a countrydisunite a country

Provided strong Provided strong central central governmentgovernment

Furthered the Furthered the growth of national growth of national statesstates

WeaknessesWeaknesses One nation’s welfare One nation’s welfare

was dependent on was dependent on one personone person

Often sacrificed Often sacrificed national interest for national interest for king’s personal king’s personal interestinterest

Countless warsCountless wars Disregarded needs of Disregarded needs of

common peoplecommon people